Konica Minolta, Macquarie launch e-recycling drive

Konica Minolta Australia, Macquarie University and ANZRP's TechCollect have launched the Rethink e-recycling Drive in Macquarie Park, marking a second year of collaboration between the three organisations.

The collection drive is aimed at residents, students, staff and businesses looking to dispose of unwanted electronic equipment at local drop-off points. It is intended to divert devices and components from landfill and improve access to recycling services in the area.

Collection points will operate at Macquarie University's Sport and Aquatic Centre on Gymnasium Road and at a car park on Link Road. A separate collection point will run from Konica Minolta's Macquarie Park office foyer, while registered businesses will be able to use a drive-through drop-off service at the company's loading dock.

Accepted items include personal and laptop computers, cables, tablets, notebooks, palmtops, computer monitors, parts and accessories, printers, fax machines, scanners, multifunction devices and televisions.

All material collected through the drive will be processed by ANZRP through its TechCollect service. ANZRP is a not-for-profit e-waste recycler under the National Computer and Television Recycling Scheme.

A new element this year is a certified secure data erasure service for eligible devices. Participants who use the service will receive erasure certificates.

Andrew Bywaters, Senior Manager Facilities, Quality & Environment at Konica Minolta Australia, said the event was designed to extend the company's environmental work beyond its own operations.

"Sustainability and environmental responsibility are at the heart of how we operate at Konica Minolta, and initiatives like Rethink e-recycling are a practical way we can extend that commitment beyond our own business and into the wider community. Following the success of last year's inaugural event, we're proud to bring the initiative back in 2026, working with Macquarie University and ANZRP to make responsible e-waste recycling more accessible for residents, students, staff and businesses. Together, we can help keep valuable materials out of landfill and contribute to a more sustainable future," Bywaters said.

Expanded reach

This year's programme will cover a wider area and use more collection channels than the inaugural drive, according to ANZRP.

"We are excited to once again partner with Konica Minolta and Macquarie University on what is becoming a growing e-recycling event for local communities and businesses. In 2026, the event will expand its geographic reach, offer a wider range of collection channels and, for the first time, provide a certified secure data erasure service for eligible devices. Every device collected means fewer harmful materials entering landfill and more valuable resources recovered for reuse," said Anne Stonier, Chief Marketing Communications and People Officer at ANZRP.

The partners are targeting both households and commercial users, reflecting the mix of waste streams that often build up in offices, homes and educational settings. Printers, monitors, old computers and televisions remain among the most common forms of electronic waste handled through formal recycling schemes.

Electronic waste is a growing issue for governments, recyclers and manufacturers as device turnover increases and older products contain materials that can be recovered or require controlled processing. Metals, plastics and glass can often be separated for reuse, while improper disposal can send hazardous substances to landfill.

Industry-backed schemes such as TechCollect form part of Australia's broader approach to recovering end-of-life consumer electronics. The National Computer and Television Recycling Scheme was created to give households and small businesses access to recycling services for products that would otherwise be difficult or costly to dispose of responsibly.

For Macquarie Park, the campaign also reflects an effort to create local collection options rather than requiring people to travel to specialist depots. The inclusion of university sites and a business-focused drive-through service suggests organisers are trying to capture both casual individual drop-offs and larger workplace volumes.

The addition of secure data erasure addresses a common concern among businesses and consumers who hold onto unused devices because of the risk that data could remain on hard drives or storage media. Eligible devices can be processed through a certified erasure programme, with documentation provided to customers.

The service could be particularly relevant for companies replacing computers and related equipment in bulk, where disposal decisions often involve both environmental and information security considerations. It also broadens the appeal of the drive beyond residents clearing out older household devices.

The organisations have framed the initiative as a practical local response to a national waste problem, using temporary collection points to increase convenience and participation. As Stonier said, "Every device collected means fewer harmful materials entering landfill and more valuable resources recovered for reuse."